Network: Société Radio-Canada (SRC) TV Network
Broadcast Run: 2000 to 2003
Broadcast Medium: Television
A TV miniseries written by Diane Cailher starring Luc Picard as Michel Chartrand, the colourful and dynamic Quebec trade unionist, and Geneviève Rioux as Simonne Monet-Chartrand, his wife, a social activist and feminist. Driven by their ideals of justice and social commitment, Simonne Monet and Michel Chartrand united to build a family but also to change the world. Despite their financial difficulties, social disapproval and the birth of seven children, the couple would pursue their dream of a better world through their actions and struggles.
The director of the miniseries was Alain Chartrand, one of the couple’s sons.
The first six episodes in the initial series, broadcast by Radio-Canada beginning on February 2, 2000, described the story of this activist couple’s devotion to both their family and the struggle against social injustice, covering the period from 1935 to 1960.
This first segment of Chartrand et Simonne (1935-1960) won six Gémeaux Awards in 2000 (including best dramatic series, best direction and best actor to Luc Picard).
A second segment of six episodes, covering the period from 1960 to 1993, now entitled Simonne et Chartrand, was broadcast by Télé-Quebec in the fall of 2003, beginning on October 30, as Radio-Canada had elected not to continue production on the series featuring the famous couple.
In addition to the two main actors, the cast included Raymond Bouchard, Muriel Dutil, Gabriel Gascon, Françoise Graton, Julie McClemens, Patrick Goyette, Anne-Marie Cadieux and Stéphane Demers.
Written by Yvon Chouinard – February, 2006